Editorial: Increased diversity benefits everyone
The Hispanic increase is of special interest to us. The increase brings a culture that many have never been exposed to before coming to Arizona. Our exposure to this culture promotes understanding with one of the fastest growing populations in the United States.

Opinion: Russian gold medal scandal may be caused by Mafia men
In a dark, unhappy place in Moscow, we find a small bar, not far from Gorky Park. The plain door leads you into an even darker room where a picture of Stalin is barely seen amidst thick clouds of cigarette smoke. Somewhere in a back corner, dimly lit, we find two suspicious men.

Opinion: Plus-minus grading system 'wiggidy whack'
Suddenly, an old Kris Kross lyric sprang to mind, "Inside out, it's wiggidy wiggidy whack." For those of you who are unfamiliar with the lingo of the Mack Daddy and the Daddy Mack, I'll translate into ASU speak: It's sketchy, man.

Opinion: On President's Day, fight for freedom
n case you forgot, today is President's Day. It's OK if you did forget, though. It's not like it's a very significant holiday or anything — unless, of course, you were planning on shopping for a new mattress.

SPORTS

Devils take pair from Bruins
The ASU men's basketball team revitalized its postseason hopes this past weekend with one of the year's most improbable victories.

Weekend brings strides, setbacks
The ASU softball team's streak of dominance in this young season has yet to cease, as it was crowned champion of the Louisville Slugger Classic this past weekend.

ASU swept out of Sunshine State with three loses to FSU
Heading into this weekend's series against third-ranked Florida State, the No. 13 Sun Devils had a perfect 7-0 record. However, when they had completed a three-game series Sunday, their unbeaten mark was history and they closely resembled a punch-drunk boxer after a heavyweight title fight — dazed and confused.

Undermanned Devils shocked by Bulldogs
ASU was forced to surrender an immediate six points without freshman 125-pounder Mike Simpson, who is 23-7 on the season and holds a No. 11 national ranking. Simpson sustained a leg injury in practice last week.

Swimming Update
Sure, the departing members were honored during a pre-meet ceremony, but there was a sense of urgency and unfinished business at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center. The seventh-ranked Sun Devil men promptly put an end to that feeling by rolling to a 171.5-128.5 win over No. 8 UA.

Golfers finish seventh in Hawaii
The Sun Devils struggled to get going at the beginning of the tournament, and finished the first day of the 24-team event in 20th place. However, after an impressive second day in which three golfers (sophomore Chez Reavie 68, freshman Jesse Mueller 70 and freshman Pat Moore 72) carded low scores, the Sun Devils jumped all the way into 10th place.

Classifieds - 2/18/02
Announcements START YOUR own fraternity! Zeta Beta Tau is looking for men to start a new Chapter. If you are interested in academic success, a chance to network and an opportunity to make friends in a non-pledging Brotherhood, e-mail: zbt@zbtnational.org or call 800-431-9674.

24 hopefuls seek ASASU positions
An official candidate list released Friday of the 2002 Associated Students of ASU elections includes eight executive and 16 Senate hopefuls.

Three students are running for ASASU president, two for executive vice president, one for graduate student affairs vice president and two for activities vice president. There are no candidates for campus affairs vice president at this time.

Graduate students share ideas, research
Graduate students from science departments across the campus exchanged ideas on research projects at the Graduates in Earth and Life Sciences (GELS) Symposium on Friday.

Crisis response team helps victims cope
When Tempe resident John Connors, 50, jumped to his death from the Twin Palms Hotel on Jan. 29, police and fire crews had no time to spare for Connors' wife, who witnessed the suicide.

Today
Alpha Mu Gamma is hosting a language acquisition symposium at 3:30 p.m. in the MU, Room 218. Five ASU professors will speak on their views and experiences with teaching and learning languages.

Alabama man brings solar innovation to Valley
Joseph Newman said he has invented a machine that produces more energy than it consumes, making the future of solar-panel energy more efficient. Newman demonstrated his machine in a strip mall at Priest Drive and Elliot Road throughout last week.

Police Beat
A man was arrested for second-degree murder in the 1000 block of East Spence Avenue. A police patrol unit was called at approximately 7:30 a.m. to respond to a dead body found in a vacant lot on the 1400 block of South Jentilly Lane.

ENTERTAINMENT

Music Review
It must be one laugh after the other being a member of Harvette's inner circle. It's obvious the LA-based trio likes poking fun at just about everything, including themselves, as evidenced on the 14-track, self-titled debut.

Students sold on non-seedy sex shop
Naughty lingerie and sex toys, along with an unusually comfortable shopping atmosphere, can be found on Mill Avenue inside the fairly new Fascinations store.

Attention actors: Marathon of plays meant for you
Casting for the Master of Fine Arts program's New Plays Marathon is going on this Saturday in the Fine Arts Center. While it wouldn't hurt to have some acting experience under your belt, it's a moot point to the directors.

'Vagina' fights violence, opens minds
The voices of women from various cultural backgrounds and life experiences can be heard in The Vagina Monologues, yet they are all related by two universal themes: self-understanding and self-respect.

Detect-a-date
Well, you were right to think that the State Press Magazine was the only one that cares about you and is willing to help. When all the other magazines are off in Jamaica making love to your best friend, we are here for you.

'Calling' all music maniacs: Breakthough band hits Bash
The year 2001 was a memorable one for The Calling - they released their debut album Camino Palmero on RCA Records, watched their single "Wherever You Will Go" become a radio staple, toured with Lifehouse and broke through the teen pop craze on MTV's Total Request Live (TRL) three times.

Oh yeah, baby, it's B.B.
In the midst of a national, yearlong tour, during which he'll play his usual 200 to 250 shows, King took the time to talk with SPM via telephone from a hotel room in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Exotic arts excite, entice, intrigue
Luckily, there's the Exotic Art 2002 exhibit at the Alwun House in Phoenix, rekindling its annual assault of interpretations on our fantasies and fears, bringing together dozens of works by more than 50 local artists intent on opening our minds, and eyes, to sexual liberation and taboos.

Sculptured visions of a former Sun Devil
Hound dogs sing in chorus from some suburban backyard in the distance. Sculptor Melissa Martinez, 26, reclines in a yellow-cushioned antique chair, crusted in dust from too many days in her Tempe studio.

Somebody Spiked the cartoons
With all of the corporate-generated hype about Valentine's Day and its smoochy-smoochy love fests, no one ever really thinks about the day after - Friday the 15th, the day where all you fellas are still giddy from the candy and drunken love. How sweet!

Mohr than meets the eye
He's a chimpanzee and he's one of the most romantic birthday gifts Jay Mohr has ever given his wife. When asked if he considers himself romantic — Mohr responds with a firm "Absolutely."

Looking for my online Valentine
Set up a profile for myself on Match.com, describing my every quirk and quality for thousands of hungry men to view and judge. Wait and welcome the (hopefully numerous) responses to my ad, pick out a few gems, go on a few dates and rate the overall online dating experience for you, my beloved readers, so you wouldn't have to. That's how much I care.